“I think you should.Ontario now has standardized rental agreements and if memory serves me right, you must give sixty days’ notice to terminate.In your agreement, are there any additional penalties for breaking the terms of your lease?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Start looking for a place and in the meantime, let’s get this ball rolling.”
“What does that even mean?”I have at least a dozen boxes left to unpack, so that’s a good thing because I hate moving.
But the hunt for another place is depressing.It’s hard to find a decent rental in a safe and affordable neighborhood.I want to throat punch my jerk of a landlord.
“Paige, I’m sorry but I’ve got a conference call in five minutes.”
“It’s seven thirty in the evening and you’re still working?”
“Yeah, it’s a new case and long story.Do you want to talk to Pip?”
Normally, I’d jump at the chance, but I don’t want to go through it again.“No, not right now.”
“Okay.I’ll fill her in.There’s someone who owes me a favor who could help.He’s in Toronto.I’ll text the details.”
“Okay.”
“And Paige?”
“Yeah?”
“Go stay with Mom and Sam.You may not want to but living with them, even for a few weeks, doesn’t mean you’re a loser.”
I snort at how well he knows me.Next to my successful brother, I feel like a mess and going home seems like failure.Logically, I know I had nothing to do with this and my family wouldn’t blame me, but right now I’m overrun with emotions.
“Right.”My voice softens, so grateful for my brother.“Thank you.Love you, loser.”
Drew chuckles at my joke.Things wouldn’t be right between us if one of us didn’t take the chance to jab at the other.“I’ll give you that but only because I set it up so well.Love you.Talk soon.”
Ending the call, Tom’s reply pops up.He’s already out but will come over if I need him.He, too, is sweet, but I let him off the hook.This is my problem.
True to his word, by Monday, Drew has the government housing agency working on notifying my landlord of his violation, which comes with a fine if he does it again.And he’s arranged for me to meet with Zachary Rothwell, CEO of Rothwell Enterprises, today.How he pulled that off over the weekend, I don’t know.I know very little about the man, but I’m surprised a powerful businessman like Rothwell owes Drew and it isn’t clear how he can help.
I sit in the swanky reception area of Rothwell Enterprises, waiting to be called when a buxom blonde heads toward me.Her strawberry-red lips curl into a smile.“Ms.Hayes, I’m Karen Michaels, Mr.Rothwell’s assistant.Please follow me.”
“Sure.”I spring from the comfy tub chair and sling my purse over my shoulder.
The offices are bright and modern, and she leads me along several floor-to-ceiling windowed hallways to a large corner office.“Mr.Rothwell will be with you in a moment.Would you like some water, coffee, tea, or anything else?”
“No, thank you, Karen.”
She gestures to a wingback chair facing the large desk, which is neat and orderly, and closes the door behind her.The desk has a large computer screen on one side with an expensive laptop in front of it, and a stack of file folders easily a foot high is at the other end.Two picture frames also rest on the desk.
One picture is of a teenaged boy with a couple.They are all smiling and affectionate in their gazes and postures.A more ornate picture frame holds the other photograph, of an elegant elderly woman with the same boy, only he’s now a young man and looks vaguely familiar.
Behind me, someone clears their throat and I jump, turning to face a striking, well-dressed man.Mr.Rothwell.He has at least eight inches on my own five foot six, and while I’ve never met him, I’ve seen his face online and once on the cover of a prominent national business magazine while I waited in my doctor’s office.
“Ms.Hayes?”He extends his hand, readily engulfing mine in his large, smooth palm.“Zachary Rothwell.”
“Hello.Please call me Paige.”
“Did you find what you were looking for?”He flicks his chin in the direction of his desk, suggesting I was snooping, as an amused grin pulls at his full lips.Flames lick at my cheeks.
“I was just…” I pause, clearing my throat, and then flash a sassy grin of my own.There’s no point protesting since I didn’t do anything wrong.
